COVID-19 Cases and Hospitalizations Decline; Public Health Planning for Additional School Re-openings and Increases Access to Vaccine

LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health or Public Health has confirmed 116 new deaths and 1,759 new cases of COVID-19. To date, Public Health identified 1,195,913 positive cases of COVID-19 across all areas of L.A. County and a total of 21,669 deaths.

The seven-day average number of cases by episode date has decreased to less than 900 per day as of February 23.

There are 1,476 people with COVID-19 hospitalized and 31% of these people are in the ICU.   As cases decline, the average number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 decline, though the County is not back to pre-surge levels. In Early November before the surge, there were around 800 daily hospitalizations and now daily hospitalizations are averaging 1,500. 

The seven-day average number of daily deaths continues to decline yet remains far too high. On January 13, the average peaked to 254 daily deaths, and today, as with far too many days during the week, over 100 deaths are reported. 

Testing results are available for nearly 5,860,000 individuals with 19% of people testing positive.  Today’s daily test positivity rate is 2.6%. 

L.A. County is very close to meeting the metric thresholds for the less restrictive red tier in the State’s Blueprint for a Safety Economy. This week, L.A. County’s adjusted case rate dropped to 7.2 new cases per 100,000 people and the test positivity rate is 3.5%. Our case rate needs to remain at or below 7 new cases per 100,000 residents for two consecutive weeks to move to the less restrictive red tier. If L.A. County moves into the red tier next week and stays in that tier for two consecutive weeks, schools will then be eligible to reopen in-person learning for students in grades 7 through 12.  

Currently, schools throughout the county have reopened for high needs students and for grades TK through 6. As of March 1, 1,799 schools are providing on-campus services for high needs students.  

Public Health is working in partnership with Los Angeles County school districts to establish the Public Health Ambassador Program for students and parents. This program will actively engage school communities in preventing and reducing the spread of COVID-19 by empowering students and parents as essential partners in each school’s prevention effort. For parents, the program offers a one-time 90-minute virtual session that covers proven safety practices for home and in the broader community.  Student Ambassadors meet weekly and learn about the impact of COVID-19 on wellbeing, and about social determinants of health and how the pandemic has impacted some groups more than others.    

The Public Health Lab has tested 679 specimens of COVID-19 virus in L.A. County to assess the presence of mutations —  with more than 400 of these sequences performed since Jan. 1 of this year. To date, Public Health has confirmed a total of 27 cases of COVID-19 variant B.1.1.7 U.K. variant and one case of the P.2 Brazil variant in Los Angeles County. All of the U.K. variant cases have been identified since January 15, and the first case of the P.2 variant from Brazil was identified late last week. In addition, there have been 239 California variant cases with the vast majority of these cases identified since Dec. 1 of last year. In the most recent run of 55 specimens in the Public Health laboratory, 31 (56%) included the 5-mutations characteristic of the California variant, so this strain continues to be widely circulating in Los Angeles County. There have been no cases identified in L.A. County with the South African variant.   

Los Angeles County continues work mitigating barriers and increasing access to vaccine to eligible residents and workers in the hardest hit communities. Because navigating an online registration system is a major barrier for many people, Public Health is working with a number of community leaders and organizations who are handling the registration process for those who are eligible and are not able to easily use online registration. In addition, the Public Health call center is also able to register people without requiring individuals to go through the online interface. Approximately 3,000 appointments this week at the county run sites are being filled through these efforts. Many community vaccination partners are also eliminating on-line registration requirements for their patients, and helping individuals register on site.

Mobility limitations and transportation are a challenge to many people. Public Health is continuing to send mobile teams, with its partners Curative, to senior residential communities, especially in areas that have had low vaccination rates. The county is coordinating with rideshare companies to provide additional transportation options for people eligible to be vaccinated. 

For many people, needing to provide a government-issued ID is a barrier to being vaccinated.  There are many options for verifying your age, where you live and where you work when you come to a vaccine appointment that do not require government issued ID. Vaccinations are always free and available to all immigrants. Getting vaccinated doesn’t impact current or future immigration status and doesn’t affect green card eligibility. It is not considered in a public charge test. As a reminder, medical information, including information about vaccinations, is private and not shared with immigration officials.

Details: www.VaccinateLACounty.com (English) and www.VacunateLosAngeles.com (Spanish).